Spool-and-chain log stop and kicker



Sept. 8, 1953 w. T. s'rocKrs'r-r, .11R

SPOOLANDCHAI-N LOG STOP AND KICKER Filed Jan. 2S, 1952 /Z/yl I INVENTOR. h//Lfy Zlrocffr ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 8, 1 953 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'SPOOL-AND-CHAIlGISgTOP AND KICKER Wiley T. Stockett, Jr., Woodruff, Ariz.

Application January 26, 1952, Serial No. 268,411

s claims. (01.143-95) l in conjunction with log turners associated with saw mill carriages of large saw mill rip sawing equipment.

One of the objects of this invention 1s to proy vide an improved simplified and highly eilicient log stop and kicker which is economical to manufacture and which at the same time is simple in design and fool proof in operation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified log stop and kicker which may be energized by a suitable source of power, such as an electric motor, for presenting logs to position to be received by a log turner or other apparatus associated with a saw mill carriage. y

Still another object of this invention is to provide a push button control electrically operated log stop and kicker which may be controlled by the operator to present successive logs to a saw mill carriage or to arrest a series of logs to be cut that are resting upon the initial loading deck.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved log stop and kicker mechanism having a pair of chain tracks power driven from an electric control source in conjunction with a freely rotating spool acting as the detent delaying or positioning device in such a way that energizing of the chain one direction or the other straightens up the logs and intermittently presents them to the saw carriage as desired.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appearfrom a detailed description of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a log stop and kicker mechanism incorporating the features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of thelog stop and detent spool of the novel apparatus.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view onthe line 4-4 of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 isa section on Vthe line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

For illustrative purposes this invention is shown applied in connection with log turning apparatus indicated generally at I0, such for example as illustrated in my co-pending patent application, Serial No. 229,020, led May 31, 1951, and'to log stop and kicker mechanism such as shown in my co-pending patent application, Serial No. 242,332, led August 17, 1951. The obthe apparatus shown ject of the present invention is to provide apparatus for periodically and selectively at the will of the operator placing of logs II to be sawed on to the log turner I0 whereupon the logs are then properly handled with regard to the usual saw mill carriage and rip saw not shown. This apparatus comprises a frame structure consisting of vertical upright supporting legs I2 which are suitably connected to side frame members I3 and made relatively to one another by means of suitable cross bracing I4.

A log stop and kicker comprises a main drive or spool shaft I5 suitably journaled in bearings I6 and I1 on the side frames I3 and is connected thru a gear I8 fixed on the shaft I5 with a pinion I9 on the reversible drive motor 20.

Journaled on the shaft I5 on suitable bearing bushings 2l fixed inthe tube 22 are the log stop discs 23 suitably secured as by welding 24 to the tube 22 so that the discs 23 and tube 22 function as a freely rotating spool co-aXial with the drive shaft I5.

Fixed on the shaft I 5 closely adjacent the spool discs 23 are the roller chain sprockets 26 over which operate the log supporting and moving roller chains 21 and which operate `overidler sprockets 28` carried on an idler shaft or by other suitable means 29 journaled on the bearings 30 carried in'the side frame member I3. The upper line of the chains 27 is supported on guide rails 33 for free rolling longitudinal movement of the chains 21 on the side frame members I3, as best seen Vin Fig. 5.

Preferably the drive motor 20 may be push button controlled for either one or the other direction of rotation by a suitable power supply and control circuit, as best illustrated in an elementary manner in Fig. 1, wherein a series of three phase power lines LI, L2 and L3 are connected for forward operation of the motor 20 thru the forward contactor FC operated by its relay coil FCF. When the forward push button F is pressed and which may be operated in the reverse direction bythe reverse contactor FR whenV its coil FCR is energized when the reverse push button R is pressed. Preferably a suitable It is important to note that in this arrangementV a critical relationship is provided between the top portion 3I of the discs 23 of the spool 25 3 and the top contacting surface area 32 of the chains 21 so that when the chains are stationary a log such as Ha will be detained and held against the periphery of the discs 23 as shown in Fig. 2. However when the chains are operated in forward direction such as indicated by the arrow 35 in Fig. 2 the log wil be given sufdcient thrust and inertia to cause it to roll over the top portion 3| of the discs 23 because of their free rotation on the journal bearings 2l as described. At any time by reversal of movement of the chains 21 the logs maybe arrested or moved backward from the detaining discs l2? v to await the sawing of the log just deposited on the saw carriage i0.

Various sizes of discs 23 may be utilized and the diameter varied to vary the positiony 'of the point 3| with regard to the chains at the surface 32 depending upon thesize and nature of logs to be handled by this mechanism.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes a preferred form of the invention, it is also to be understood that the apparatus is capable of mechanical alteration without departing from the spirit of the invention and that such mechanical arrangement and commercial adaptation as fall within the scope of the appendent claims are intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully set forth and described this invention what is claimed as new and desired to be obtained by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A log stop and kicker mechanism including a frame, a main shaft journaled in said frame, a log stop and kicker spool journaled on said shaft for independent rotation thereon, a plurality of sprockets fixed on said shaft, a plurality of log supporting and moving chains operating over said sprockets, idler sprocket means at the opposite ends of' said chains journaled on said frame, and supporting means for the intermediate portions of said chains facing upwardly between said main shaft and said idler sprockets to carry logs placed on said chains to and from engaging position with said spool, and power means for driving said main shaft.

2. A log stop and kicker mechanism including a main drive shaft, a log stop and kicker spool comprising a tubular shaft portion journaled for free rotation on said main drive shaft, a pair of circular disc members spaced at each end of and rigidly fixed to said tubular portion, a pair of log moving chains located each side of said spool, a pair of chain supporting sprockets fixed on said main drive shaft one closely adjacent each of the outside faces of said discs, and power means connected to said drive shaft for actuating said chains in horizontal movement to present or remove logs from engagement with the periphery of said discs of said log stop and kicker. spool.

3. A log stop and kicker including, 'a frame, a main shaft journaled on said frame, a log stop and kicker spool comprising a tubular shaft jour-v naled for free rotation on said main shaft, a plurality of spaced discs having peripheral detaining surfaces on the outside diameter thereof fixed at spaced positions on said tubular shaft, power means for rotating said main shaft, a plurality of log supporting and actuating endless looped chains slidably supported on a frame, chain supporting sprockets for one of the looped ends of said chains fixed on said main shaft operatively engaging said chains for movement of said chains about the axis of rotation of said shaft and spool, and idler chain sprockets, supporting the opposite looped ends of said chains from said main shaft and spool, journaled on said frame.

4. In a log stop and kicker mechanism, a supporting frame deck, a main shaft journaled in said frame for rotation about a horizontal axis, log stop andkicker apparatus on said shaft comprising a, spool member having a tubular shaft j'ournaled for free rotation on said main shaft,

nand a pair of spaced `discs fixed one at each end of said tubular shaft, power means connected to, reversiblydriving, and instantly arresting rotation of, said main shaft, a plurality of endless looped chains, chain supporting sprockets for one of the looped ends of said chains fixed on said main shaft adjacent said disc members, chain supporting idler sprocket vmeans on said frame for supporting the other looped ends of said chains, and push button control means to control said power means operable to effect the actuation of said shaft. v

5. A log stop and kicker mechanism includingv a supporting frame deck, a main shaft journaled in said frame for rotation about a horizontal axis, stop and kicker apparatus on said shaft comprising a rspool member freely journaled for rotation about the axis of said shaft, discs on said spool mechanism having peripheral surfaces for engaging the logs to be controlled by said apparatus, a pair of sprockets fixed on said shaft of Asmaller diameters than said discs, a pair of idler sprockets journaled on said frame, chain means operating over said sprockets, support means intermediate said idler and drive sprockets on said drive shaft for receiving a vertical load applied by the presentation of logs on said chains, and power means for driving said sprockets to move said chains in log engaging position inY substantially horizontal movement to and from the peripheral surfaces of the discs of saidspool or to move said logs over the periphery thereof.

6. In a log stop and kicker mechanism having a frame, a main drive shaft journaled for hori zontal rotation on said frame, vsprockets one at each end of said shaft fixed thereon, idler sprockets at a horizontally spaced position on said frame from said first mentioned sprockets, chain means operating over said sprockets, support means located on said frame and engaging said chains intermediate said first mentioned sprockets vand said idler sprockets so as to carry a load of logs on the upper train of said chains, a log stop and kicker mechanism comprising a tubular member freely journaled on said drive shaft between said drive sprockets and said chains, log engaging discs xed on said tubular member, and. power means for reversibly actuating or stopping movement of said drive shaft and chains so as to present logs to or remove logs from said peripheral surfaces of said spool or to actuate logs -over the periphery of the discs of said spool.

WILEY T. STOCKETT, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

